"As an album, the songs here can be categorised into two specific areas – the out and out more aggressive death metal tracks, where Chuck’s vocals reach the guttural growl that is one of the major characteristics of that genre of metal along with the groove of the guitars and drums, and the more typical Testament guise of thrash metal, where the vocals are more recognisable from the band’s early days, and the music is less toned down and more acceptable in the fast and bright tones that the early albums resided in. Both categories of songs here are terrific, don’t get me wrong there, but there is a line down the middle in regard to the style, and there is certainly more of the death metal scene here than the band’s original thrash roots.

On the thrash side, the opening track “D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)” is a beauty, kicking the album off in terrific tyle, fast and unabashed, with Chuck crushing hard with his vocals throughout. Ditto for the following track “Down for Life”, a song that could have come straight from those early albums, fast and thrashy guitars, terrific drumming from the master of speed Dave Lombardo, and Chuck’s vocals hitting right in the sweet spot. This is such an awesome song, no holds barred, and no time to rest to take a breath. Perfect Testament in the very best form".

On this episode we are going to talk about “The Gathering” by Testament, the band’s 8th studio album released 25 years ago this week, on today’s ‘no one lives forever, there is no forever’ episode of Music from a Lifetime.